I have an old version of SPSS from 1995 on floppy disc. I love it because it's so much better than the free stuff like SalStat and others. How to I make it run in Windows 7 Professional? I keep getting a message that b/c Win7 is 64 bit, it won't. But I have compatibility mode for Win XP where it did run before I upgraded to a new PC. Is there anything I can do?
posted by CollectiveMind
on Feb 13, 2015 -
7 answers

This is going back to this question where I'm dealing with obsolete computer equipment. This weekend's discovery was a laptop at least 10 years old, a desktop computer of over 5 years not running on a Windows system, and another desktop over 5 years running on Windows Vista. [more inside]
posted by adapt
on Sep 29, 2014 -
12 answers

What software should we use to design our (small) house? We will have an architect draw the final plans, but want to create quick 3D models for visualization. [more inside]
posted by sibilatorix
on Jul 23, 2014 -
6 answers

Before building my own... does this software exist? I need to search a collection of PDF & Word files for key phrases, and dump the surrounding lines (x-m to x+n characters/lines, where x is the found phrase) into text files.
I occasionally need to search a few dozen files for a few dozen data items, which usually have some identifying text nearby. This needs to be automated.
Big bonus if it implements OCR, but that's not essential. Freeware, or cheapware, obviously is best. Windows-based is preferable, but I can do Linux.
posted by IAmBroom
on Feb 12, 2014 -
9 answers

Hi everyone. Sometimes I'm trying to find an obscure system or game file, and it is actually very difficult to get Windows 7 to understand that, yes, I want it to search through ALL files on a disk. [more inside]
posted by Alaska Jack
on Nov 30, 2013 -
5 answers

Everything in firefox is zoomed in twice by default. Icons in the bookmarks bar are larger than they should be and pixellated. How can I fix this? [more inside]
posted by msbrauer
on Jul 1, 2013 -
10 answers

For a while I've been using Echofon as my Twitter client. It's got some things I don't like, but I always assumed they'd eventually get fixed. However, Echofon has discontinued support for the desktop client, opting instead to focus on mobile platforms. I'm looking for a replacement, since some features in Echofon have inexplicably stopped working and obviously won't be fixed. Anyone got suggestions on a replacement? [more inside]
posted by Legomancer
on Apr 25, 2013 -
3 answers

I'm looking for a Windows app for viewing multiple remote webcams on a single screen -- something like Live Cams Pro on iOS. Ideally it would be able to categorize cameras by topic or location, support live feeds as well as static ones, and maybe be able to store timed snapshots from the cams over time (like Camembert could do back in the day). I'm not as concerned about receiving audio or controlling the cameras. [more inside]
posted by Lazlo Nibble
on Jan 1, 2013 -
0 answers

I had been using a mac to keep my media files and had been using "Ripit" to rip my DVD's and "identify" to tag the resulting files and put into itunes to watch on Apple TV.
Due to file space I have moved to a PC running Windows 7 to do this. And while I have found software to rip the DVD's I cannot find software to add the tags such as "synopsis", "cover art", and "episode details"?
You suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks Me-Fi
posted by ndaguiar
on Jul 25, 2012 -
1 answer

Can't afford to buy software. Seeking free windows software programs (any programs!) that are as good or better than their for-cost counterparts. What can you recommend?
posted by luvmywife
on Jul 24, 2012 -
16 answers

I just bought a new iMac for home. I use one at work(Boot camp Windows 7) with programs like Maya, After Effects, Premiere etc and love it. Now with one at home I would actually like to use both Mac and Windows OS but have a hard time deciding what software to put where... Can someone help me figure this out? [more inside]
posted by matthelm
on Jun 16, 2012 -
6 answers

Someone close to me is going blind. What kind of screen reader and other software should I set them up on so they can continue to read and send email? [more inside]
posted by Mitheral
on Feb 22, 2012 -
4 answers

How can I thoroughly test the Windows 7 desktop machine I built for my dad before I give it back to him? He lives 4.5 hours away so I won't be able to easily respond to problems once he has it. [more inside]
posted by decrescendo
on Dec 19, 2011 -
11 answers

Are there any Windows programs that can compare two image files and tell me if they're duplicates or not, ignoring different metadata and file formats? [more inside]
posted by Bangaioh
on Jun 25, 2011 -
14 answers

I have a piece of software that works on Windows 7, 32-bit, but not on x64 versions. Is it possible to get it working on my computer, perhaps in a VM? I also have the linux version of the software. [more inside]
posted by Canageek
on Mar 23, 2011 -
11 answers

I would like to display Karaoke lyrics over a live webcam feed. This means I might need a skype (or equivalent) plugin that plays the music & lyrics, or find some karaoke software with the ability to display lyrics over a transparent background. (That is, to have windowless karaoke display, and run the webcam feed behind it. )
All the software (I can find) to play .CDG (karaoke lyric standard) files forces them to be played with an image background, or over a video file. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious
on Mar 10, 2011 -
1 answer

Is there any software that will take the input of a USB webcam, and (at a given signal like a mouse-click) save the previous 30 seconds/45 seconds/one minutes/two minutes of video/audio to the hard drive? Windows is required, F/OSS is preferred. [more inside]
posted by Doofus Magoo
on Jan 15, 2011 -
9 answers

I'm trying to start an internet cafe-type business and I'm having real trouble understanding how to properly license copies of Microsoft Office, as well as Adobe software (e.g. Photoshop). There's a further caveat, which is that customers will use thin clients to access virtualized PCs on a central server. [more inside]
posted by thumpasor
on Jan 3, 2011 -
9 answers

Picasa does everything thing I want in a light photo editor (cropping, highlight and shadow correction, roation (90 degree and free)) and browser except it does not support multiple computers using the same meta data. My fricken database has been corrupted again (apparently it doesn't handle 200K+ photos very well either) so I'm looking for an alternative that does support syncing between multiple computers and network storage. [more inside]
posted by Mitheral
on Nov 28, 2010 -
10 answers

How can I play the classic Windows games in the Best of Microsoft Entertainment Pack (JezzBall, Chip's Challenge, SkiFree, PipeDream) on a Mac? [more inside]
posted by rachaelfaith
on Jun 30, 2010 -
7 answers

There seem to be some interesting plugins for doing tedious library management chores (like say, TuneUp or TidySongs). Googling produces tons of non-reviews reviews and noise, and I don't feel like messing my stuff (and time) with lots of try-and-see's, not to mention you have to pay for them (yes, I'm ok with paying for a couple of these things if they are worth it but not just to experiment). So if you're so kind to share, tell me your personal experience and recommendations for iTunes plugins, for Windows. If your experience if
s of something so vile I should run away from it, do tell too!
posted by Iosephus
on Apr 8, 2010 -
8 answers

Beginning this week, I will start using a Windows XP notebook as my home computer; to date my personal computers have been Macs. I've done some preliminary research as to Windows alternatives to programs, but I'd appreciate three areas of people's suggestions: (i) general tips for owning a Windows machine as your home machine; (ii) specific tips for people migrating from a Mac to a Windows machine; and (iii) critiques and/or alternate suggestions for Windows alternatives to the Mac programs I've used. [more inside]
posted by WCityMike
on Mar 21, 2010 -
23 answers

Are there any programs/extensions out there to make the editing/organizing of my bookmarks in Firefox any easier? I'm using XMarks to sync these bookmarks between my XP and OSX machines. [more inside]
posted by decrescendo
on Feb 6, 2010 -
5 answers

Looking for good system monitoring / task scheduling software to run on Windows for server monitoring as well as running custom scripts for keeping track application specific metrics. [more inside]
posted by Nothing
on Dec 22, 2009 -
2 answers

Need software which enables saving my Windows XP file directory tree and shows subfolders as a .gif, .jpg or .bmp. Google found some software which saves it as a text file, but I want the visuals of the actual folders in the tree structure.
posted by dorgla
on Oct 23, 2009 -
1 answer

I need to record myself giving a presentation for school. My laptop has a built in webcam and microphone. What free Windows software would you recommend for this task?
posted by gocubbies
on Sep 24, 2009 -
4 answers

Is there a Mac equivalent to CDR Media Code Identifier. This could be run in Parallels, but I'm not sure it'll be able to get what it needs out of the DVD drive. And of course, it'd be nice to not have to run Parallels.
posted by ignignokt
on Sep 15, 2009 -
4 answers

About Ask MetaFilter

Ask MetaFilter is a question and answer site that covers nearly any question on earth, where members help each other solve problems. Ask MetaFilter is where thousands of life's little questions are answered.